32 Observations on Tasmanian Statistics. 



cent, increase. The population had increased respectively 

 ]8'4per cent, for the first of these periods, and I'S per cent, 

 only for the last; showing the diffusion of more house 

 accommodation among the community in proportion to its 

 numbers, and a consequent augmentation to the sum of 

 social and domestic comfort. The houses uninhabited in 

 1842 were 333 or 4*3 per cent. ; in 1848, 668 or 6'5 per 

 cent. ; and in 1851, 599 or 6 per cent. This was two months 

 before the gold discoveries ; the first effect of which 

 was to create the belief that there would be a general 

 desertion of houses from the selling off pf house and 

 home by people of every grade rushing to the diggings. 

 House property, in fact, at the onset was greatly depre- 

 ciated, and sold — and that with difficulty — at almost a nomi- 

 nal price. In a short time, however, there came an unlooked- 

 for reaction. The streets of Hobart Town and Launceston 

 by the end of the year began to swarm with lucky diggers 

 and numerous visitors, — the former bent upon enjoying 

 the fruits of their success with their families and friends, 

 and the latter to take up their abode more or less perma- 

 nently, attracted by our superior climate, and our more quiet 

 and better protected towns. The demand for dwellings at 

 once exceeded the supply, and soon there was not a house 

 to be got without almost a scramble, — rents rising 300 or 

 400 per cent. 



Table 40 is a classification of the inhabitants of Tasmania 

 as regards their profession of religion, as ascertained by the 

 census taken in the years 1842, 1847, and 1851 respectively; 

 every person whose religion was not stated in the census 

 paper being returned as belonging to the Church of Eng- 

 land. By comparing and analyzing the returns for the three 

 periods, we obtain the following results : — 



